Exercisers and exercise methods

• US 6,299,569 B1
• Filed: 09/02/1993
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Retrograce Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Retrograce Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Rich, Christine A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly, Jerome W.
• Application Number:
  US08/116,355
• Time in Patent Office: 2,959 Days
• Field of Search: 482/144, 482/129, 482/130, 482/121-128, 482/134, 482/143
• US Class Current: 482/123
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/027 using player's own weight, e.g. on a platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0004 Exercising devices moving as a whole during exercise bar bells or dumb bells A63B21/072; on wheels A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00043 Exercising devices consisting of a pair of user interfaces connected by flexible elements, e.g. two handles connected by elastic bands skipping ropes A63B5/20; resilient elements A63B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00185 using resistance provided by the user, e.g. exercising one body part against a resistance provided by another body part A63B21/068 takes precedence; isometric exercise A63B21/0023
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/023 Wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0442 Anchored at one end only, the other end being manipulated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/055 extension element type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0555 Details of the rope or band, e.g. shape or colour coding
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0557 Details of attachments, e.g. clips or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/16 Supports for anchoring force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/28 Devices for two persons operating in opposition or in cooperation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4001 Arrangements for attaching the exercising apparatus to the user's body, e.g. belts, shoes or gloves specially adapted therefor weights worn on the user's body A63B21/065; exoskeletons in general B25J9/0006, for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about A61H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4009 to the waist
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4037 Exercise mats for personal use, with or without hand-grips or foot-grips, e.g. for Yoga or supine floor exercises mats for absorbing shocks A63B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0219 on hands and knees
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0223 Squatting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0228 Sitting on the buttocks
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0238 : with stretched legs, like on a bed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0242 : Lying down
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0247 : with legs in a kneeled 90/90 position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0252 : supine
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0257 : prone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0211 : moving torso with immobilized lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0233 : Muscles of the back, e.g. by an extension of the body against a resistance, reverse crunch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03508 : For a single arm or leg, A63B21/0726 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03525 : Supports for both feet or both hands performing simultaneously the same movement, e.g. single pedal or single handle A63B21/0724 takes precedence

Abstract

Exercisers are disclosed which include a flexible stretchable loop which is configured to receive both a hand or foot of the person exercising, and which is covered with a stretchable textile which is stretchable therewith. The stretchable loop closely conforms to and grips either the hand or foot of the person when the person is exercising, and is attached to extension spring which has a spring force which permits it to be stretched by the muscle force of a person when the hand or foot of the person is received in the loop so as to extend to a length which exceeds at least 100% of its length at rest, and preferably 200-300% of its length at rest. A variety of exercise routines are made possible by the exercisers of the invention and are disclosed for exercising the thigh, hip joint, groin, arms, stomach, back and/or gluteal muscles.

Claims

1. A method of exercising the leg thigh muscles of a person, comprising:

the person exercising assuming a position lying on the person'"'"'s back;

stationarily fixing an end of a resilient stretchable element to a point which is in a plane which is substantially parallel to a plane which passes through the hips of the person exercising;

attaching the opposite end of the resilient stretchable element to the foot of the leg to be exercised;

extending the leg to which the resilient stretchable element is attached to substantially full length to stretch and elongate the element;

swinging the extended leg and the extended element from a first position in which the leg extends upwardly in the vertical and is closely adjacent a plane bisecting the head and hips of the person exercising to a second position outwardly and away from the vertical and the last mentioned plane, and back to said first position; and

wherein said resilient stretchable element is an extension spring which has a spring force which permits it to be stretched by the muscle force of the person so as to extend to a length which exceeds at least 100% of its length at rest.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein both of the person'"'"'s legs are extended upwardly in the vertical in said first position with a resilient stretchable element attached to the foot of each leg to stretch and elongate each of the elements, and both extended legs are swung outwardly and away from the vertical to said second position, and then back to said first position, whereby stretch is imparted to the inner thigh muscles when the legs are swung from the first position to the second position, and a resistance force is imparted to the inner thigh muscles by said resilient stretchable elements when the legs are swung from the second to the first position.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said resilient stretchable element is attached to the foot of the leg to be exercised by a flexible stretchable loop which grips the arch of the foot when a tension is drawn on the loop by the resilient stretchable element.

4. A method of exercising the leg thigh muscles of a person, comprising:

the person exercising assuming a position lying on the person'"'"'s back;

stationarily fixing an end of a resilient stretchable element to a point which is in a plane which is substantially parallel to a plane which passes through the hips of the person exercising;

attaching the opposite end of the resilient stretchable element to the foot of the leg to be exercised;

extending the leg to which the resilient stretchable element is attached to substantially full length to stretch and elongate the element;

swinging the extended leg and the extended element from a first position in which the leg extends upwardly in the vertical and is closely adjacent a plane bisecting the head and hips of the person exercising to a second position outwardly and away from the vertical and the last mentioned plane, and back to said first position; and

wherein the other leg of the person exercising is extended in alignment with the body of the person and is relaxed, attaching a second resilient stretchable element between the foot of the leg which is to be extended upwardly in the vertical and a hand of the person exercising to guide the leg when it is extended upwardly for swinging movement outwardly and away from the vertical to said second position and back to said first position, whereby when the upwardly extended leg is swung between said first and second positions and guided by the hand of the person exercising, the inner thigh is stretched and the hip joint is stretched of the extended leg and when the leg is in said first position the hamstring muscle is stretched, while the neck and shoulder muscles of the person exercising are relaxed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said resilient stretchable element is an extension spring which has a spring force which permits it to be stretched by the muscle force of the person so as to extend to a length which exceeds at least 100% of its length at rest.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said resilient stretchable element is attached to the foot of the leg to be exercised by a flexible stretchable loop which grips the arch of the foot when a tension is drawn on the loop by the resilient stretchable element.

25. The method of claim 5, wherein said spring is attached to the foot of the leg to be exercised by a flexible stretchable loop which grips the arch of the foot when a tension is drawn on the loop by the spring.

7. A method of exercising the leg thigh muscles of a person, comprising:

stationarily fixing an end of a resilient stretchable element to a point which is in a plane which is substantially parallel to a plane which passes through the hips of the person exercising;

attaching the opposite end of the resilient stretchable element to the foot of the leg to be exercised;

extending the leg to which the resilient stretchable element is attached to substantially full length to stretch and elongate the element;

swinging the extended leg and the extended element from a first position in which the leg is closely adjacent a plane bisecting the head and hips of the person exercising to a second position outwardly and away from the last mentioned plane; and

wherein the person exercising is lying on the person'"'"'s side with the extended leg having a pair of resilient stretchable elements attached thereto with the leg extending in substantial alignment with the remainder of the person'"'"'s body in said first position, and said extended leg is swung backward at the knee from said first position to said second position while bending the knee and back to said first position, whereby the front and rear thigh muscles of the swinging extended leg are synergistically exercised.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said resilient stretchable element is an extension spring which has a spring force which permits it to be stretched by the muscle force of the person so as to extend to a length which exceeds at least 100% of its length at rest.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said spring is attached to the foot of the leg to be exercised by a flexible stretchable loop which grips the arch of the foot when a tension is drawn on the loop by the spring.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said resilient stretchable element is attached to the foot of the leg to be exercised by a flexible stretchable loop which grips the arch of the foot when a tension is drawn on the loop by the resilient stretchable element.

11. A method of exercising the leg thigh muscles of a person, comprising:

stationarily fixing an end of a resilient stretchable element;

attaching the opposite end of the resilient stretchable element to the foot of the leg to be exercised;

moving the leg to which the resilient stretchable element is attached to stretch and elongate the element;

moving the leg to which the elongated and stretched resilient element is attached from a first position in which the leg is closely adjacent a plane bisecting the head and hips of the person exercising to a second position outwardly and away from the last mentioned plane; and

wherein the person exercising is sitting with the leg to be exercised having the resilient element attached thereto extending substantially forward of the person when in said first position, and said leg to be exercised is swung from said first position to said second position, and back to said first position.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said resilient stretchable element is an extension spring which has a spring force which permits it to be stretched by the muscle force of the person so as to extend to a length which exceeds at least 100% of its length at rest.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said spring is attached to the foot of the leg to be exercised by a flexible stretchable loop which grips the arch of the foot when a tension is drawn on the loop by the spring.

14. The method of claims 11, wherein said resilient stretchable element is attached to the foot of the leg to be exercised by a flexible stretchable loop which grips the arch of the foot when a tension is drawn on the loop by the resilient stretchable element.

21. The method of claim 11, including

stationarily fixing an end of a resilient stretchable element to a point which is in a plane which is substantially parallel to a plane which passes through the hips of the person exercising;

extending the leg to which the resilient stretchable element is attached to substantially full length to stretch and elongate the element;

swinging the extended leg and the extended element from a first position in which the leg is closely adjacent a plane bisecting the head and hips of the person exercising to a second position outwardly and away from the last mentioned plane; and

wherein the person exercising is sitting with the extended leg having the resilient element attached thereto extending substantially forward of the person when in said first position, and said extended leg is swung arcuately outwardly from said first position to said second position, and back to said first position, whereby the outer and inner thigh muscles of the swinging extended leg are synergistically exercised.

15. A method of imparting resistance exercises to the outer thigh muscles of a leg and the gluteal muscles of a person exercising, comprising:

the person exercising assuming a lying position on the person'"'"'s side with one leg extended adjacent the surface upon which the person is lying;

fixing one end of a resilient stretchable element at a location adjacent the surface upon which the person is lying;

attaching the opposite end of the resilient stretchable element to the foot of the other leg;

moving the other leg to which the resilient stretchable element is attached away from said one leg to stretch and elongate the element; and

moving the foot of the other leg toward and away from the foot of said one leg.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said one leg is moved forward of the person exercising, and said one end of said resilient flexible element is stationarily fixed to the foot of said one leg.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said resilient stretchable element is an extension spring which has a spring force which permits it to be stretched by the muscle force of the person so as to extend to a length which exceeds at least 100% of its length at rest.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said spring is attached to each foot by a flexible stretchable loop which grips the arches of the feet when a tension is drawn on the loops by the spring.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said resilient stretchable element is attached to each foot by a flexible stretchable loop which grips the arches of the feet when a tension is drawn on the loops by the resilient stretchable element.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said other leg to which the resilient stretchable element is attached is extended to substantially full length and away from said one leg to stretch and elongate the element;

and arcuately swinging the foot of the other leg toward and away from the foot of said one leg.

22. A method of exercising the lower back and gluteal muscles of a person exercising, comprising:

the person exercising assuming a lying position on the person'"'"'s back;

stationarily fixing the ends of an elongate stretchable element at a pair of spaced locations straddling the person'"'"'s hips with the elongate stretchable element closely overlying the person'"'"'s hips; and

simultaneously moving the hips upwardly against the elongate stretchable element.

23. A method of stretching the hip and groin muscles of a person exercising, comprising:

the person exercising assuming a sitting position with the knees bent and spaced outwardly from each other and the feet together; and

stationarily fixing the ends of a resilient stretchable element below and forward and behind each knee, and closely overlying each leg adjacent the knee with said resilient flexible element exerting a downward resistance force on each leg adjacent the knee.

24. The method of claim 23, including moving the knees upwardly against said downward resistance force to impart a resistance force to the inner thigh muscles.

26. A method of exercising the gluteal muscles of a person, comprising

the person exercising assuming a kneeling position on one knee;

stationarily fixing an end of a resilient stretchable element adjacent the knee of the kneeling leg;

attaching the opposite end of the resilient stretchable element to the foot of the other leg which is not kneeling;

moving the foot of said other leg to which the resilient stretchable element is attached away from the knee of the kneeling leg to stretch and elongate the element; and

moving the foot of the other leg toward and away from the foot of the kneeling leg.

27. A method of exercising the gluteal muscles of a person, comprising

the person exercising assuming a kneeling position on one knee,

stationarily fixing an end of a resilient stretchable element to the foot of the kneeling leg,

attaching the opposite end of the resilient stretchable element to the foot of the other leg which is not kneeling;

moving the foot of said other leg to which the resilient stretchable element is attached away from the knee of the kneeling leg to stretch and elongate the element; and

moving the foot of the other leg toward and away from the foot of the kneeling leg.

28. A method of exercising the gluteal muscles of a person, comprising

the person exercising assuming a kneeling position on one knee,

stationarily fixing an end of a resilient stretchable element;

attaching the opposite end of the resilient stretchable element to the foot of the other leg which is not kneeling;

moving the foot of said other leg to which the resilient stretchable element is attached away from the knee of the kneeling leg to stretch and elongate the element;

moving the foot of the other leg toward and away from the foot of the kneeling leg; and

where in said other leg is extended to substantially full length to stretch and elongate the element, and the foot of the extended leg is arcuately swung toward and away from the foot of the kneeling leg.